Boop boop boop ba-doop boop (blows raspberry) Sorry. It's eleven o'clock at night D: Sailor Moon is owned by Naoko Takeuchi-sensei and TOEI Animation
"What?!" Haruko shrieks. "You can't go back there! That's our personal hell!"
"I just need to talk to my grandmother," Usagi says calmly. She's sitting at their breakfast table, and just told them of her plans to go to Kyoto. Akira's leaning back in another chair, Haruko's standing next to her, speaking with both her tongue and arms, and Jose's leaning against the wall in the back.
Akira snorts. "You mean the Devil? That wench ain't worth the trip. As for me, I ain't goin' back 'cept to clean Gramps' grave. And what if you run into the Number One B'tch?"
"Then so be it. I'll be fine, Mamo-chan's coming with."
"You're dragging him along, too?" Akira says in disbelief that quickly turns to pity. "Oh, the poor thing!"
Haruko sighs. "Usa-chan, I really don't think this is a good idea. I mean, we're doing splendidly here, so what's the point in going back, even for just a little bit?"
"I noticed you ain't said nuttin' yet," Akira says to Jose. "You ought to have a comment or two."
Jose sighs, and shifts his weight. "Does this have something to do with your… disturbance the other night?"
"'Disturbance'?" Haruko and Akira say together. "What disturbance?" Haruko says, her eyes darting between Jose and Usagi.
"Well…" Usagi says, and then it's her turn to sigh. "I may have… had a bit of a nightmare the other night, involving Mamo-chan… and Grandmother and Arisa. The message I gathered was that if I don't confront them before we're married, they'll confront us."
"Wow. Some nightmare," Akira says.
"So, you see, that's why I have to go. Because I really don't want them coming here."
After letting that settle, Haruko sighs again. "Well, I guess if you really have to… Just, please be careful. Don't piss anybody off."
Usagi lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "For some reason, I feel like I should say thank you!"
"Haruko smiles as Usagi hugs her. "I know you'll be okay with Mamoru-kun with you. I trust you, and I trust him."
"Thanks."
Usagi's running between rooms, packing. Jose asked her if she needed help, but she had simply denied him, not even stopping for a full denial or explanation, or looking at him.
Ding-dong. "Door," Akira says from her spot on the couch, reading the new Fairy Tail manga.
"Lazy-ass," Jose says under his breath as he jogs to get the door.
"Akira, where is my manga?!" Usagi shouts as Jose opens the door, prompting an "Oh, crap!" from Akira, who quickly jumps up from her spot and runs back to her and Haruko's room.
"Well, that answers that question."
Jose looks back to the entrance, and sees a man with short blonde hair and an almost-feminine face, wearing a button-down shirt and slacks, and a woman with wavy, layered, green hair wearing a pink sun dress and flats with a white bolero.
"I'm sorry?" Jose says.
"About the… anyway. We're here for Haruko and Akira?" the woman says.
"Oh, Haruka-san, Michiru-san!" Haruko says, entering the room. "Please, do come in! I apologize that the place isn't very neat, but I'm sure we won't have to spend long here!"
"That's just fine, don't worry!" the man says, as he and the woman enter the apartment.
"Jose-san, this is Ten'no Haruka-san,"-Haruko gestures to the man-"and Kai'o Michiru-san!" she gestures to the woman. "Akira and I are going to see a movie with them, and possibly walk around the park afterwards." She turns to the back hallway. "Akira, are you almost ready? They're here!"
"Who's here?" Usagi says, entering the room. "Oh- Haruka-san! Michiru-san! What a pleasant surprise, it's been so long!" Her stressed face relaxes into an excited smile as she hugs the newcomers.
"Usagi?" Haruka says, smiling. "Wow! How long have you been back?"
"Actually, for a while, but I haven't seen you two around!"
"Such a shame, or we'd have scheduled a get-together!" Michiru says.
"How do you know Haruko and Akira?" Usagi asks.
"I met Akira at a club, and we've kept in touch ever since!" Haruka says, winking.
Akira runs out, rolling up her sleeves, and smiles. "Hey, y'all!"
"Oh, Haruka-san, Michiru-san," Mamoru says as he approaches the open door. "What a… nice surprise."
"Alright, Tux, you don't have to lie to be polite," Haruka snaps.
"At least I have the sense to be."
"At least I can actually do something to protect others."
"Haruka!" Michiru scolds, but she goes unnoticed.
"You wanna test that theory?!" Mamoru spits back.
"Yeah, I do!"
"I won't go easy just 'cause you're a girl!"
"Wait, what?" Jose says, bewildered, but he too goes unnoticed.
"Wasn't expecting you to!"
"Stop it! Both of you!" Usagi says, separating the two. "Why can't you just get along?! It's always been this way! The Inners and Outers… What difference does it make? Aren't you both fighting for the same thing?"
"I am so confused right now!" Jose says. "Will someone please explain what's going on?"
"Haruka and Michiru are Sailors Uranus and Neptune, respectively," Usagi says. "They have a history of not getting along with everybody… especially Haruka."
"Well, if-" Haruka starts.
"Uh-uh!" Usagi interrupts. "We're not continuing this!"
"Usagi, are they senshi?" Michiru asks.
Usagi nods. "Yes, they are. Akira and Haruko are Sailors Earth and Sun, respectively, and Jose is…"
"I'm from the future," Jose finishes, smiling.
"In any case, we need to be going," Haruko says. "We'll miss the start of the movie."
Akira scoffs. "More like the start of the previews," she says, receiving a giggle from Haruko.
"Aiight, but we're not done here, Chiba!" Haruka says, pointing at Mamoru.
"Yes, you are!" Usagi says, pushing Haruka's hand down. "Go! Please, learn to get along!"
Haruka narrows her eyes, but says no more, slamming the door shut behind her.
"Well, that was interesting," Jose says.
"You," Mamoru says, looking at Jose. "Can you watch over Chibiusa while we're gone?"
"You mean Serenity? Sure, that'd be my pleasure!" Jose smiles. Maybe this will get him on better terms with the King, so that he'd be more accepting of his relationship with Kousagi!
Mamoru sighs. "Thank you."
Serenity folds her arms. "Ugh, this is so retarded! I mean, I'm not a baby, so why do I have to have a babysitter?! Ugh!" She flops on the couch and turns on the TV, instantly becoming absorbed.
"It's not like I have any real power over you. Don't worry, I'm not gonna boss you around or anything, I'm just gonna be here."
"Whatever," Serenity says dismissively, shoving stale popcorn into her mouth.
Jose smiles, and takes his bags to Mamoru's room. This apartment is so much nicer than the one he shares with the girls, it's no wonder Usagi prefers to sleep here! But, then, it's also probably to just sleep next to him. He knows he'd feel the same way about Kousagi, if he could. Oh, Kousagi!
He pulls out the pocket portscreen he brought with him from the future, and opens his photo album. He hasn't showed this to anybody, but he looks at it all the time. He flicks his finger across the screen, browsing through the pictures. He picks out one they took at one of those vintage-style photo booths. They were so goofy at the time! He places his hand on her laughing face, frozen in time. The photo booth was so old-school, the pictures don't even move, so the moment is still, stuck on her cute expression, never-changing, but it captured it so perfectly.
He closes his eyes, but can only see her. His chest hurts, and he allows one tear to slip down his face. He wipes it away, and takes a shaky breath. He wants to her so bad. He misses her terribly, so bad it hurts, and it's as though each second takes a million years because his day of departure draws ever-closer.
"Soon, my love," he whispers. "Soon."
Usagi opens her eyes slowly, and stretches, yawning. She remembers where she is, and groans, disgruntled. "Oh, yeah," she grumbles. She's on a train to her hell, but the upside is that her heaven is seated next to her.
"Good morning," he says, and she can hear the smile in his voice.
"Hey," she says. "How far are we?"
"A couple stops," he says, his tone suddenly grave.
She sighs. "I wish I could've stayed longer," she says longingly, staring out the window.
"Hey," he says, and takes her hand. "Look at me." She turns away from the approaching city. "It'll be okay. I'm here, alright?"
She nods. "Right. I just wish…" She sighs.
"What?"
"That you didn't have to see me this way."
He swallows. "It's fine. We'll be fine. Okay?" He squeezes her hand. "Okay?"
She nods. "Okay."
Derrrrrrrrrrp. It's after midnight. Give me a break :P Also, I hope that it wasn't too confusing when I said Haruka versus Haruko, like misreading and thinking one was the other and visa versa .-.